Trolley-clamp.



T. VARNEY.

TROLLEY CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 190a.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909 /2' INVEyTOR M1 V BYuLy/ ATTORNEY UNITED 'srnrns PATENT. orrron.

THEODORE VARNEY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC dz MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF EAST PITTSBURG, PENN-- SYLVAN-IA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TROLLEY-GLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17,1909t Application filed November 6, 1908. Serial No. 461,360.

and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trolley- Clanips, of which the following is a specification. V

My invention relates to means for suspending electric line conductors, and it has for its object to provide a clamping device which shall be simple and durable in construction and bymeansot' which a trolley conductor may be adjusted without interferin with the hanger or support by which the clamp is suspended.

According to my present invention, I provide a clamping device which is specially adapted for use with trolley conductors that are suspended from messenger wires or cables and is also adaptable to various types of hangers,- such as that referred to above.

One ofthe advantages in my clamp over those ofthe prior art lies in the fact that the clamping action and the means by which it is produced are entirely independent of the connection between the clamp and the hanger. The trolley conductor may, consequently, be ad usted, by reducing the pressure exerted in the clamp itself, without loosening or re-arranging the hanger in any way.

Flgure l of the accompanying drawing is a 1 partially sectional end elevation of a hanger rod having a trolley-conductor clamp which embodies n1 invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an inner side elevation of one of the two duplicate jaws of the clamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, a trolley conductor 1 is suspended from a messenger wire or cable 2 by means of a hanger rod 3,

a cable clamp L and a trolley clamp 5. The

cable clamp 4 comprises a loop 6 which surrounds the cable 2 and is provided with a pair of cars 7. The upper endof the connecting rod 3 is flattened to fit between the ears 7 and is secured in position by means of a bolt 8 and nut78 The trolley clamp ocomprises a pair of interchangeable jaw members v9 each of which has a shank projection 10 at one edge,

11, at one flange 12 11 of' one a laterally projecting hook in end, and a hole or recess 12 and a at the other end- The hook lug jaw member. is ada ted to coiiperatewitli the recess 12 and the ange l2 of the, other to lock the jaw members together, and the shank projections 10 are provided with-complementary recesses 10 which are tapered inwardly to form. a double frust'o-conical socket the minimum diameter of which is midway between its ends. The jaw members may he forced together by meansof a pain of taper plugs 14 which are drawn intotlije .V.

ends of the socket referred .to above means of a bolt 15 and nut 15. The adjacent clamping surfaces of the jaw members may be of considerable length and are provided with claws 1(3 or are otherwise adapted to conform to the shape of the trolley conductor l, which may be grooved in a well known manner.

The upper'extremities of the shank projections are provided with cars 17 between which is located the lower end of the hen er rod 3, these parts being secured together oy means of a bolt 18 and nut 19. The bolt 18 is intended to provide a pivotal connection between the rod 3 and the clamping members. and the nut 19 should not be so set as to interfere with the action of the taper plugs 14 and the clamping bolt 15.

It will be observed that the clamping'bolt 15 is substantially parallel to the trolley con ductor 1 and that its nut 15 may be adjusted to withdraw or vary the clamping action of the jaw members Without detach-- ing any of the parts or interfering, in any way, with the hanger connections. In many cases, it will be found advantageous to temporarily suspend a trolley conductor by means of the hangers and clamps, the trolley wire being afterward put under the desired tension and adjusted before the clamps are finally tightened to prevent the trolleyconductor from sli ping through the jaws.

My trolley 0 amp comprises parts which are simple and interchangeable and the jaw members of which require no finishing and may be cast from malleable iron or similar material. The taper plugs,'which are preferably finished, may be cheaply manufactured by automatic machinery and the only remaining parts are standard nuts and boltso ion ble hinge-connected jaw The head of the clam nut 15 may be tapere the taper plugs unnecessary, other modifications may be the scope of my invention.

1 claim as my invention V n 1. A clamp comprising a pair of separamembers having shanks provided with complementary doubletaper recesses, and plugs located in said recesses and movable toward each other to turn the 'aw members on their hinges.

2. A clamp comprisin a pair of interchangeable jaw members fiaving cooperating hook lugs, recesses and flanges, and shanks provided with complementary double taper recesses, plugs adapted to be forced into said recesses to move the jaws toward each other.

3. A trolley clamp comprising a pair of interchangeable jaw members having shanks provided with complementary double taper recesses, said jaw members having cooperating hook lugs, recesses and flanges for locking the jaw members together, taper lugs fitted into said recesses, and a bolt for rawing bolt 15 and thereby rendering if desired, and eifected within the 1 ing the plugs into the recesses, to force the aws together.

interchangeable jawmembers having cooperating'hook lugs, recesses and flanges for locking said -members together and provided with shanks having complementary double taper recesses, taper plugs fitted into the ends of said recesses, and a bolt for drawing the plugs together shanks apart.

5. A trolley wire clamp comprising two hinge-connected members forming jaws at one side and a double-tapering split socket at the other side of the hinge-connections, and. means adapted to engage the tapering walls of said socket to close the jaws.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of Oct., 1908.

THEODORE VARN EY.

to spread the 4. A trolley clamp comprising a pair of 

